First redistricting "gerrymander" created

On February 11, 1812, Massachusetts Governor
Elbridge Gerry signed an electoral redistricting law that favored
his party - the practice became known as "gerrymandering" in
reference to Gerry and the unusual, allegedly salamander-like
district that resulted.

See the original 1812 political cartoon
of The
Gerry-mander in the Boston
Gazette.

Japan enacts Meiji Constitution

On February 11, 1889, the Meiji
Constitution of Japan was promulgated by Emperor Meiji.
Officially titled, the "Constitution of the Empire of Japan", the
Meiji Constitution went into effect on November 29, 1890 and served
as the country's fundamental law through the rise of Japanese Empire
until the end of World War II. On May 2, 1947, the Meiji
Constitution was replaced by the Constitution of
Japan, which serves as the country's governing document
today.

The Meiji
constitution created a constitutional monarchy in Japan with the
Emperor serving as a powerful executive. The document furthermore
created a parliament, called the Diet as well as an independent
judiciary. Its passage came as part of the Meiji Restoration, in
which the Japanese Imperial throne retook power from the Shogunate
and guided the nation into the modern world.